By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), caucus in the House of Representatives, has called on President Bola Tinubu to call the state Governor Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to order over his animosity towards the late Akeredolu and against the party’s growth in the state.
The lawmakers, who stated this in an open letter to Tinubu, also alleged that Aiyedatiwa has great hatred for his yet-to-be-buried late predecessor and principal, Rotimi Akeredolu.
They explained that there is urgent need for Tinubu to intervene quickly so that it may not affect the party’s chances in the forthcoming 2024 governorship poll in the state.
They claimed in the letter to the president that Aiyedatiwa has been hobnobbing with arch-political enemies of his late predecessor and even dinning with the opposition party.
Recall that Aiyedatiwa, former Deputy Governor of the State, was sworn in as governor sequel to the death of Governor Akeredolu in December.
The open letter to Tinubu was signed by six federal lawmakers namely: Hon. Adesida Abiodun Cornelius (Akure North/South), Hon. Timehin Adelegbe (Owo/Ose), Hon. Festus Adefiranye Ayodele (Ileoluji-Okeigbo/Odigbo), Hon. Ojogo Donald Kimikanboh(Ilaje/Ese-Odo), Hon. Odimayo Okunjimi John (Okitipupa/Irele), and Hon Adegboyega Adefarati (Akoko South West/South East).
The lawmakers addressed newsmen in Abuja on the content and intent of the letter, with the leader of the caucus, Adesida calling on the President to intervene by calling the governor to order.
According to them, the Governor’s actions in the APC would cost the party electoral loss in the forthcoming 2024 governorship poll in the State.
They said since his swearing-in as Governor, Aiyedatiwa has made a series of decisions that indicated his animosity towards the late Akeredolu and his lack of concern for the party’s growth in the state.
The lawmakers told the president that the governor has been associating with arch-political enemies of his late predecessor and even cosying up to the opposition party.
“The Deputy Governor appointed by Mr Aiyedatiwa is a well-known political adversary of the late Governor. Despite hailing from Owo, they never saw eye to eye during the late Governor’s lifetime. Olajide Adelami caused a great deal of trouble for the late Akeredolu during his bid for re-election in 2020 to which you were committed.
“Furthermore, it has become common knowledge in the state that Mr Aiyedatiwa has aligned himself with every disgruntled and established political enemy of the late Akeredolu. As an example, the appointment of Barrister Kola Olawoye, a suspended APC member and former Attorney General of the state, as Aiyedatiwa’s campaign coordinator in Owo has been widely condemned by loyal party members, particularly in Owo.”
“There is a growing divide within our party and it is occasioned by the seed of enmity sown by Governor Ayedatiwa. Those who were once loyal to Akeredolu have been sidelined, while individuals from the opposition who aligned with Mr Aiyedatiwa in the fight against the late Akeredolu, demanding that he relinquished power to Aiyedatiwa when he was sick, now hold significant positions within the government and party,” Adesida said.
